Rosemary and it's many benefits

One of the most well known herbs due to its accessibility and how easy it is to grow rosemary is known for its wonderful fragrance. It happens to be one of my favorite, because it grows easily in most climates. (I've never had a rosemary bush die on me) Rosemary is always in my garden. Until recently, I was unaware that it's native to the Mediterranean. It grows on the cliffs and sandy soils of the shoreline. It is an evergreen and part of the mint family.

As a student of Ayurveda my interest in the medicinal use of plants continues to grow. Since rosemary is one of the more common herbs in America, I thought it'd be helpful for my clients to learn that this plant can be used for more than just seasoning your turkey on Thanksgiving.

Rosemary is an

anti-inflammatory

anti-oxidant

circulation stimulant

It helps with headaches that are due to tension, overwork, and anxiety.

I know that there are a lot of people in the U.S. that are skeptical when it comes to holistic methods of healing. We have been brain washed by big pharma to fear anything that doesn't come via prescription in pill form. But more and more people are realizing that often times prescriptions not only don't heal us, they sometimes make our conditions worse, and they are turning back to ancient remedies to find relief.

If you haven't heard about Ayurveda, it is an ancient science of health that dates back more than 5,000 years. Modern studies are revealing what the ancients already knew.

In this case, rosemary was used to promote circulation, increase blood pressure, stimulate digestion and blood flow.

Germany's Commission E (equivalent to our USDA) examines the safety and efficacy of herbs (I wish our gov. would consider examining herbs...but that's another topic for another day.) Germany has approved rosemary as an

-antibacterial

-anti fungal

-anti parasitic

-has acknowledged that the scent relieves stress and anxiety.

In Ayurveda, rosemary is helpful in treating vata vitiation (an imbalance in the body's makeup that results in poor circulation, anxiety, overwhelm, nervousness). A simple tea made from rosemary leaves helps warm the body from the inside, resulting in increased circulation and increased blood flow. This also helps aid in hair loss by bringing blood flow to the head and feeding the hair follicles. As an anti oxidant, rosemary helps rid the body of AMA, accumulated toxins along various tissues in the body, by washing them out with better circulation.

Rosemary can be use internally as a tea or a tincture to help with indigestion, nervous tension, bronchitis, memory and cognition, circulation, and headaches.

It can also be used topically to treat skin conditions, as an antibacterial, and to alleviate muscle and joint pain. To use it topically put a few drops of rosemary essential oil into a base oil, such as sweet almond oil, and rub it onto the skin. Preliminary research confirms that rosemary does kill bacteria, parasites, and is helpful in many skin conditions.

You can try to grow this wonderful plant in your garden, like I do, and use it's leaves to make teas and tinctures. You can also order it in any form, including essential oil form from companies like Banyan Botanicals and Mountain Rose Herbs. If you have any questions about how to use rosemary, please feel free to comment below.

Sabrina White is an ACE certified Health and Fitness Coach. She has 20 years of experience working with a variety of clients and teaching a number of group fitness classes. Sabrina recently became and ayurveda health educator. To reach Sabrina for a free consultation please contact her at www.ayurvedacoach.org

This article is meant to increase your knowledge on the history and use of rosemary. It is not intended to diagnose or treat.

References

National Geographic: Guide to Medicinal Herbs by Andrew Weil, M.D. National Geographic Washington D.C.